Chapter 31: 28.5- The Red and the Black
Black walked down a road soaked in blood, she had a wide evil smile, The air was heavy with the scent of iron and the sound of her boots crunching on the crimson-stained ground. In her grasp, she held the remains of a man who had foolishly tried to stand in her way. With disturbing ease, she tore him in half, devouring one portion with grotesque relish before discarding the other like trash.
Her voice, dripping with dark amusement, echoed through the night as she stepped over the remains.
[Black]: Well, my little Red, are you done with this tedious game of hide-and-seek?
Her piercing eyes locked onto her quarry—a figure desperately sprinting ahead, their breaths ragged and uneven. Each step Black took seemed to close the distance between them.
[Red]: Stay away from me!
Their plea fell on deaf ears. Black's laughter spilled forth
[Black]: Oh, but running only makes it more fun, dear Red. Keep going. Please show me how far you think you can escape.
Red stumbled, his chest heaving with the effort of his futile flight. Then, without warning, he vanished from sight, disappearing into the veil of shadows that hung thick in the air. Black halted, her grin faltering only briefly before twisting into something far more sinister.
[Black]: Oh, clever, clever little Red. You've slipped into the Soul Market now, have you? Too bad for you... that's my favorite hunting ground.
Before she could take another step, a calm voice cut through the dark air.
[???]: Black, that's enough. We can't afford to get banned from the Soul Market again.
Black turned, her grin faltering as her gaze met that of a white fox. The fox's eyes were calm as it looked at her.
[Black]: White? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be babysitting Ron and his little team?
The fox didn't flinch. Instead, it sat down, curling its tail neatly around its paws, exuding an air of quiet authority.
[White]: Grey is taking my place for now. I'm here to make sure you don't turn this into a genocide… like last time.
Black's expression darkened, her lips curling into a snarl.
[Black]: I don't need your interference. Go back now while I'm still being nice, Whitney… or you'll suffer like the others who dared say no to me.
White's eyes narrowed slightly.
[White]: You don't understand. Red isn't running blindly. He's bought allies from the Market—the worst kind.
[Black]: Hmph. Then I'll just kill them too.
[White]: It won't be that simple.
The calmness in White's tone unnerved her, but before Black could respond, a shadow flickered at the edge of her vision.
[White]: You've fallen into his trap.
[Black]: What trap—
Before she could finish, a massive, spectral fist shot out of the darkness, striking her with enough force to send her crashing into the wall.
Black snarled as she quickly got to her feet, brushing off the dust. Her piercing gaze darted to her attacker, and her grin returned, sharp and menacing. A small army now stood before her, their weapons glowing with energy, Creatures of every shape and size surrounded her, their eyes burning with resolve.
[White]: From the start, Red only wanted to delay you—to buy time. He's preparing to break Ron, and it looks like you'll need my help to stop him.
Black growled, her fingers curling into fists.
[Black]: Help? I don't need help from you, White. These fools won't last long.
[White]: Perhaps. But you've forgotten—you can't use your full power here. Not outside of Ron's body.
The realization hit Black like a second blow. She clicked her tongue, her grin twisting into a grimace of frustration.
[Black]: Tch. Fine. But when this is over, I'm dealing with you too, Whitney.
The fox's calm demeanor didn't waver as it stood by her side, the ethereal glow of its fur brightening.
[White]: Focus on surviving first, Black. We have bigger problems ahead.
The gathered army surged forward, and the City's chaotic expanse roared to life, the battle between predator and prey about to erupt in full force.
[Chapter end]